Nice review article in [i] Nature [/i]

[ScottT1980]

Was just catching up on some current news in science and ran across a pretty good review article in this month's Nature .

Confronting the coral reef crisis

I don't know if you have to be a member, if so, let me know and I can send the .pdf to those that are interested.

Take er easy
Scott T.

Edit: I guess the itallics aren't going to work in a title...ah well

[Witfull]

yep gotta register, but its free...ill be sure to check it out,,,havent had enough Java to get into ot at the moment,,,lol

[ScottT1980]

Just to take a snipit out of the article, one that pertains to us as hobbiests:

"In recent decades, however, there has been a dramatic increase in fishing effort on coral reefs, and export of both live and dead coral reef fishes is expanding rapidly. Parrotfishes from the Seychelles and Persian Gulf are now sold by fish retailers in London. The unprecedented demand for live reef fishes in China, Singapore and Taiwan is financed by the expanding disposable incomes of a large Asian hinterland, and exerts additional fishing pressure on reefs throughout vast areas of the Indo-Pacific74,75. With retail prices76 of up to US$250 per kg, exploitation of remote reef systems has become financially viable for the first time, overcoming previous cost barriers. Herbivorous fishes are an increasingly significant component of the live fish trade, ranking currently as the second largest group targeted
for exploitation (based on biomass) (Fig. 5). These new markets have greatly augmented both the intensity and scale of exploitation, and are set to increase as fish stocks elsewhere continue to decline71. The depletion of herbivorous fishes combined with increasingly frequent bleaching events is an ominous combination, but one faced by numerous reef systems around the globe8."


After skimming the article, this is really the only reference to the hobbiest I could find. I don't think any scientist can study the true impact that we, as hobbiest, may have on the depletion of the reef. However, there is no denying that we make an impact (myself being just as guilty as the next). I just think it is important to get a reminder now and then.

Take er easy
Scott T.

[nigle]

Oi!

Thanks ScottT1980 for the <snip>.

Cheers!
nigle
!~!